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Donnerstag, 13. August 2015

Hello my friends, good news for you! PAPER and FOR YOU, two of my newest fabric lines are leaving the Moda Warehouse these days to be sent to your favorite quilt shop! Be on the lookout, I guess especially Paper will go fast.

I’m quoting here Carrie Nelson from the Moda Marketing team who is blogging today about Paper at “The Cutting Table”:

There are two reasons for my showing this today… okay, three. First, this collection ships this week so it will finally be arriving in a quilt shop near you. Long-awaited, much-anticipated… all that. (It really is worth the wait.) Second, I love this collection! (It’s not obvious, is it?) Third, when am I going to get to do another post titled “shades of gray”? (No, I haven’t read any of the books.)

Back to this particular Paper… what I love about this collection is that they’re “basics”. That means the fabrics are highly stash-able – they’re the kind of fabric that I will use these over and over again. Oh wait… I already have! I used several Paper prints for the house quilt (Village – coming soon), a few were mixed into Prairie Prom, and I used one of the prints for the background triangles in Pink Lemonade Starlight. While I love them all and will probably get fat quarters or half-yards of most of them, there are a several pieces that I’ll get more of – probably lots more of. I’d get more of everything in the collection but my apartment isn’t that big and, truth be told, I know which pieces I’ll use a lot and which ones I’ll only use a little bit of.

I think that’s the hardest thing to learn as a quilter – what to buy and how much to buy. It took me many years to realize that there were fabrics that, no matter how much I loved them, I was never going to need more than a fat quarter or half-yard. I wish there was a book to read or a chart to consult but there isn’t any easy one-size-fits-all answer. Anybody who tells you otherwise is… well, not realistic. Our tastes change, and it takes some self-examination about the kinds of quilts you make to determine what YOU need to be stashing. It comes down to one thing – what kinds of quilt you make.

For me, my “job” requires that I use new, available fabrics. The sewing I do for myself – for fun – means that I’m probably mixing backgrounds, some “old” and some new. I’ve always done that, only the tone and style of the fabric has changed. For backgrounds that I really love, I usually get at least 4 yards. For these, I’ll probably get 5 or 6 yards. Maybe a bolt. (Especially of the polka dots.) While I love the tone-on-tone backgrounds in the collection, and those that have more print and contrast to them, I’ve learned that I like them best in other people’s quilts. They’re just not “me” – even when I’ve tried to do something like quilts I love. I’ll mix them in with background prints like these, but in proportionately smaller amounts that the main backgrounds.

There is a little part of my brain that says “get bolts and bolts of your favorites” but I know that if – when! – these are hugely popular, there is a very good chance that they will stay around. Or more like them will come along. (Really, I’m pretty sure nobody has ever said, “hmmm… that’s very popular, let’s discontinue that!”) So far Carrie Nelson from the Moda team.

And not only Paper is shipping to stores, the colorful companion FOR YOU will arrive too – you will need some splashes of bright colors popping from the calm light background fabrics. Here they are

Are you inspired yet? Need a project to start with? I have lots of new patterns for you (yes FOR YOU!) on my website.

Donnerstag, 6. August 2015

The popular quilt magazine shows this modern and fresh quilt from Zen Chic made with the Reel Time collection fabrics.

The magazine issue will be on newsstands from 4th of August, so pick up yours during your next shopping trip. It’s filled with 22 projects for all styles and tastes. Get a preview of what’s inside here.

Dienstag, 23. Juni 2015

I’m more than thrilled to hold the new issue of Modern Patchwork and see the Bouncing Balls wall hanger, made from my new line FOR YOU with MODA on the cover – yeah, it’s a cover girl!

The pattern uses a drunkard’s path block. It requires a layer cake and some solids. You will sew 36 blocks and each of the blocks uses one layer of the 42 fabric swatches of a layer cake (so you’ll have some left overs for a pillow). The large circles show the different fabric designs beautifully – don’t sew this quilt with just blenders, use your most favorite prints and let them show up. Since my fabric line has a wide variety of colors I could use that for my advantage and build a gradient from warm to cool. I filled the background of the circles with solids supporting this gradient.

By the way – since this spring I’m designer for a quilting motif company and create some quilting designs which you can buy online – either as a stencil or as a paper or digital pattern for a longarm machine. The loops in the circles and the scissors are both my motifs for www.quiltingcreations.com. You will find more of my quilt motifs like glasses or TVs there…

Freitag, 8. Mai 2015

Congratulations to last weeks giveaway. We celebrated a new compilation book from Martingale called Quick Change, Refresh a Room fast with Quilted Bed Runners. Thirteen gorgeous bed runners designed by some very talented quilt designers are featured in this book.

And the lucky winner is LISA MARIE! Congratulations! I will contact you via email.

Dienstag, 5. Mai 2015

Susan has used my fabric lines Juggling Summer and Comma for some of her bags and was so kind to send me a copy.

Everyone from beginners to experts can create an assortment of modern, practical projects for gifts or personal use. Start with a simple, elegant handbag and progress to more challenging designs; skill-level ratings are included.The book includes step-by-step illustrated patterns for 12 attractive projects in a variety of shapes and styles: A pleated clutch, market bag, satchel, and walletIt also includes resource info and comprehensive how-to techniques; learn about tools, fabric prep, interfacings, linings, and purse hardware and the detailed instructions show you clearly the how-to.

Freitag, 1. Mai 2015

About a year ago Martingale invited me to be a part of a new compilation book called Quick Change, Refresh a Room fast with Quilted Bed Runners. Thirteen gorgeous bed runners designed by some very talented quilt designers are featured in this book and I felt very honored to be one to contribute to the book.

We celebrate the new book with a blog hop and a giveaway and the designers will be sharing details about their runners, Q&A style.

What inspired your bed runner? It must have been Pinterest (what else) where I once spotted a black and white wall art with lines of irregular triangles. I see instantly fabric or quilt patterns in inspirations and in that one I could imagine how easy to piece it must be – wonky cuts and no matching points. Sounds like fun.

And my line FIGURES gave me the perfect shades of navy, aqua and white linen. BTW: this quilt has been sewn and quilted by a friend of mine, Martina Ludwig. It’s great to have helping friends with such skills!

Do you have other favorite projects from Quick Change? I love Winding Roads by Megan Jimenez of Quilt story for its design and the beautiful fabrics “Color Me Happy” from Vanessa Christenson. it’s the one on the book title above.

What does the master bedroom of your dreams look like? Ohhh, which of all the favorite pictures should I pick for you???? In general it is a minimalist (how could it be otherwise), modern, clean and Scandinavian designed bedroom with lots of light and air to breath and feel free.

Image via Pinterest

One lucky winner will get an eBook version of Quick Change, which Martingale will kindly give away. For a chance to win, all you need to do is enter through the give away form below!

Follow the Quick Change blog hop for fun designer Q&A’s. You will even have more chances to win the eBook! Tuesday, April 28: Blog-hop kickoff at Stitch This!Wednesday, April 29: Kimberly Jolly and Jocelyn Ueng at Fat Quarter ShopThursday, April 30: Heather Andrus & Megan Jimenez at Quilt StoryFriday, May 1: Brigitte Heitland at Zen ChicSaturday, May 2: Heidi Pridemore at the Whimsical Workshop StudioMonday, May 4: Amanda Leins at MandaleiTuesday, May 5: Doug Leko at Antler Quilt DesignWednesday, May 6: Audrie Bidwell at Blue is BleuThursday, May 7: Stephanie Prescott giveaway via Facebook

Dienstag, 28. April 2015

pssst, SHE doesn’t know it. SHE would be anyway to busy to notice it. But well – I really hate these days.

SHE becomes so neglecting. Cuddling hours going to zero. Food only after the second loud and clear demand. And I am still so supportive…

It all starts when this car stops in front of our door – and I watch out for it!

The guy drags heavy boxes in my home and SHE freaks out with joy, jumping around as if SHE would have found an unsealed and open XXL-cat-food package. Then SHE disappears with all the stuff for hours into her studio and I hear HER singing, and working until late night. I mean, let me check that box – are there any drugs in????

All I could find were such odd bundles, who knows what those are for… Human beings are weird, aren’t they…

Although I don’t get the point what HER hype is all about, it seems to be something you can play with. At least SHE can spend hours and hours with that kind of thing. I mean – ok, it’s comfortable to dive into this watchamacallit fabric, but I prefer to have just a nap on the spread out scraps.

BTW – does SHE even get the point what playing is all about – having fun, chasing and throwing things around. When I watched HER the other night, when SHE were on HER knees seeming to have all the burden of the world on HER shoulders while pondering which of HER snippets should go where – OMG, look at that – this was her sad result. I mean PLAYFUL, baby?????

I was so sorry for HER. Out of pity for HER miserable outcome I took heart and thought, let me assist HER a bit, so SHE can feel better. I brought all that stiffness out and made a good example for what we call having fun!

Yes, that was really supportive!

I think I should teach HER more of this good stuff. Living la vie en rose instead of waking up with dark circles around the eyes due to last night’s overtime hours. Relax, baby! There is more in life than working hours!

Let’s see what SHE is doing right now… Going outdoors to take pictures from her latest whatsit.

What could this be good for?

no clue…

perhaps something interesting underneath….

This is just a perfect place to relax and bask in the sun. Well, if I am only a shining example – maybe SHE will follow and find insights about the most important things in life…

There SHE goes! That wasn't so hard, was it?

I’m curious about what my colleagues have to report about all the other weird Moda freaks, hopping over today to

Freitag, 24. April 2015

Thank you for all your encouraging and wonderful comments cheering me up in creating quilting fabrics. It means more to me than I can tell!

Everyone has great ideas and good reasons to get a Reel Time Layer Cake, but I can just send out one. So the randomly drawn winner is

Nancy, who said “I have never purchased a layer cake, but have recently seen patterns that I would love to make. Love the graphic designs in your fabrics. Thanks for the opportunity to win !”

Congratulations Nancy, I will contact you to get your address.

In case you need an idea what you could do with such a Layer Cake: here is one of my patterns featuring a Layer Cake from Reel Time, it’s called Fan-Tastic! It’s available through several online shops as for example Fatquartershop.com

I’m super happy about having had these cool girls on board and looove what they gave as eye-candy. I hope this all inspired you to own sewing projects and gave you lots of ideas how to play with the new fabric line.

One lucky winner will have the chance to start at one with her project: You will get a REEL TIME layer cake.

The winner will be drawn randomly at Wednesday. To have a chance to win please leave a comment and let us know, why you think you need that Layer Cake or what you will do with it.